Bound man gives RCMP the silent treatment

West Shore RCMP are scratching their heads over a man who showed up at a Shell gas station on the 2700 block of Spencer Road at 2 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 4, asking for scissors to cut himself free from the plastic zip-tie his hands were bound with.

The 22-year-old, who refused to speak with police after they were called to the gas station, also had cuts to his face. He had a ripped shirt, had been pepper sprayed and was wearing only one shoe.

Despite the man’s suspicious appearance, RCMP let him go because he refused to cooperate with them and there was no reason to arrest him.

Later that day, at around 8:20 p.m., police were called to Victoria General Hospital after a man had been admitted with a stab wound to his stomach. It turned out to be the same 22-year-old.

He had been picked up by ambulance at the intersection of Spencer Road and the Trans-Canada Highway. Hospitals are required to notify the police of all patients with gunshot or stab wounds. Again the man refused to speak to police.

Police are unsure if the stabbing happened at the same time as the other injuries or if it happened between the man’s two encounters with police.

RCMP are looking for any information anyone might have on the case. Sgt. Max Fossum said the man is a resident of Victoria and is known to police. Fossum could not speculate on what might have happened.

He did say it appears someone held the man captive and that whatever he is involved with is likely illegal, as he would not talk to the RCMP about it.

“It definitely was not a prank or a joke,” Fossum said. “Something would have happened to this fellow and that’s why we want, for the public interest and safety, we would like to know what happened.”

Fossum asked anyone with information to call their local police detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).